Recruiting as of 5/15/25

[Lennys Tap]

Yeah that was some hilarious Wojo shade

Smart young man - go get him, Shaka!

[MU82]

I'm optimistic that Bond is right about Shaka, and I certainly hope he is. We'll see!

[Shooter McGavin]

Good article on Asa Thomas in the athletic. 6'7" guard/forward with a feathery touch from three.  Has an MU offer (the first he received). He now has multiple D1 offers including Illinois, Depaul, Vtech, and NW.  He doesn't go over his thoughts about MU in the article though.  He's from Lake Forest High School. Class of 2023.

[genious expert]

Good article on Asa Thomas in the athletic. 6'7" guard/forward with a feathery touch from three.  Has an MU offer (the first he received). He now has multiple D1 offers including Illinois, Depaul, Vtech, and NW.  He doesn't go over his thoughts about MU in the article though.  He's from Lake Forest High School. Class of 2023.

https://theathletic.com/2703050/2021/07/14/why-marquette-illinois-and-others-are-clamoring-for-sweet-shooting-asa-thomas/?source=user_shared_article

[MU82]

When I visit the Chicago area in late 2021, I hope to go see Asa play for Lake Forest ... after he has committed to Shaka!

[Pakuni]

Asa Thomas talks Marquette and the other schools recruiting him. Everything is great.

Marquette: "Coach Smart is a great guy and I think he's going to turn that program around, they're going to be amazing. They play in the Bucks arena too which that's pretty cool to walk in there as well. That was a nice place, I liked it a lot.

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Asa-Thomas-basketball-prospect-recruitment-Illinois-Marquette-Northwestern-Oklahoma-Wisconsin-167812866/

[MU82]

Asa Thomas talks Marquette and the other schools recruiting him. Everything is great.

Marquette: "Coach Smart is a great guy and I think he's going to turn that program around, they're going to be amazing. They play in the Bucks arena too which that's pretty cool to walk in there as well. That was a nice place, I liked it a lot.

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Asa-Thomas-basketball-prospect-recruitment-Illinois-Marquette-Northwestern-Oklahoma-Wisconsin-167812866/

Many Scoopers have had the discussion about Fiserv, with some saying it's not a factor at all that we play in the Bucks' arena.

I don't know that it's a huge thing at all, but it's not nothing. And here's a recruit, in the flesh, saying it's not nothing.

[avid1010]

Many Scoopers have had the discussion about Fiserv, with some saying it's not a factor at all that we play in the Bucks' arena.

I don't know that it's a huge thing at all, but it's not nothing. And here's a recruit, in the flesh, saying it's not nothing.

Many recruits have mentioned it.  I can see the pro's and con's to it, but I think it makes MU unique and when you are selling something similar to everyone else that can certainly work in your favor.  Having any amount of access and/or interaction with the Bucks is a good thing.

[Johnny B]

Many recruits have mentioned it.  I can see the pro's and con's to it, but I think it makes MU unique and when you are selling something similar to everyone else that can certainly work in your favor.  Having any amount of access and/or interaction with the Bucks is a good thing.

wat conns

[MU82]

wat conns

Gotta lay off the high-proof stuff early in the morning, kid.

[zcg2013]

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2021/07/16/leon-bond-talks-marquette-basketball-visit-and-recruitment/7989679002/

Once again Ben Steele produces another solid article. Hopeful we get Bond either next week or the week after.

[BrewCity83]

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2021/07/16/leon-bond-talks-marquette-basketball-visit-and-recruitment/7989679002/

Once again Ben Steele produces another solid article. Hopeful we get Bond either next week or the week after.

#donedeal?

[Johnny B]

Gotta lay off the high-proof stuff early in the morning, kid.

funny

[brewcity77]

wat conns

There are a number of them. Here are a few:

First, we often hear about how much we spend on basketball. A big part of those expenses are paying to use the Fiserv. So when someone expects us to have elite results because of our elite spending, it doesn't factor in that we spend A LOT to play at our arena, which is an expense programs like Duke or UNC don't have.

We also aren't the primary tenant. That means we have to schedule around the Bucks and other events. You might strike a deal with a marquee buy game opponent, but if they have two dates and the Bucks are playing on one while the Foo Fighters are in town for the other, you may be SOL.

Not owning the arena also means we don't own the parking structure or concessions. Which means we aren't able to maximize incomes the way other programs could.

When we're selling to recruits, it's probably a general positive, but there are still negatives to playing in someone else's house.

[UWW2MU]

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2021/07/16/leon-bond-talks-marquette-basketball-visit-and-recruitment/7989679002/

Once again Ben Steele produces another solid article. Hopeful we get Bond either next week or the week after.

He mentions how on the official visit that he picked his own restaurants and sites and the MU staff commented that he's showing THEM the hot spots.  That's concerning and I know it'll get better over time, but it would seem obvious to get some local knowledge from people who've been here and know the city to help plan official visits.

[LAZER]

He mentions how on the official visit that he picked his own restaurants and sites and the MU staff commented that he's showing THEM the hot spots.  That's concerning and I know it'll get better over time, but it would seem obvious to get some local knowledge from people who've been here and know the city to help plan official visits.

I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If anything, it was probably meant to sell the hometown school.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He mentions how on the official visit that he picked his own restaurants and sites and the MU staff commented that he's showing THEM the hot spots.  That's concerning and I know it'll get better over time, but it would seem obvious to get some local knowledge from people who've been here and know the city to help plan official visits.

My guess is that this was done intentionally for a local recruit.

[Shooter McGavin]

My guess is that this was done intentionally for a local recruit.

Correct.  They were making him feel more empowered.  Probably a good source of conversation as well.

[Viper]

There are a number of them. Here are a few:

First, we often hear about how much we spend on basketball. A big part of those expenses are paying to use the Fiserv. So when someone expects us to have elite results because of our elite spending, it doesn't factor in that we spend A LOT to play at our arena, which is an expense programs like Duke or UNC don't have.

We also aren't the primary tenant. That means we have to schedule around the Bucks and other events. You might strike a deal with a marquee buy game opponent, but if they have two dates and the Bucks are playing on one while the Foo Fighters are in town for the other, you may be SOL.

Not owning the arena also means we don't own the parking structure or concessions. Which means we aren't able to maximize incomes the way other programs could.

When we're selling to recruits, it's probably a general positive, but there are still negatives to playing in someone else's house.

what you say about finances is probably quite accurate. However, MU has always shared with the Bucks going back to the Milwaukee Arena/MECCA. As a recruiting selling point IMO, I'd say very much a positive to promote the shared facility. Especially-so considering these high times for the Bucks.

[brewcity77]

what you say about finances is probably quite accurate. However, MU has always shared with the Bucks going back to the Milwaukee Arena/MECCA. As a recruiting selling point IMO, I'd say very much a positive to promote the shared facility. Especially-so considering these high times for the Bucks.

All true, and definitely something we should promote considering what we pay for the privilege. But the terms at the Fiserv aren't close to the sweetheart deal Herb Kohl gave MU when he owned the Bucks. It's a different animal financially today, which is why Marquette briefly entertained building their own arena while this last set of negotiations was going on.

[JakeBarnes]

My guess is that this was done intentionally for a local recruit.

Sounds like some double agent stuff for Bond

[dgies9156]

Sure, we pay a lot for the use of the Fi-Serv. But gang, it's a pittance compared to the cost of building and maintaining an on-campus arena like  the Deandome or Cameron.

First, there's the debt service on the building. That's usually for 30 or 40 years unless some Uber-rich alum picks up the cost. Let me know if you find one of those at Marquette.

Then there is the maintenance, operations, capital improvements, staffing etc., to operate an arena. That is not cheap and it never goes away.

Finally, there is the intangible of playing in a state-of-the-art NBA arena compared to a Jesuit-designed Vow of Poverty Arena. Where do you think recruits would rather be?

[4everwarriors]

Eye'm feelin' it four Bond. Just sayin', hey?

[Dawson Rental]

Love the understated comment "Marquette fell off a bit as a really good basketball school..."  This guy seems to have a classy way of saying things.

UVA is tough competition but based solely on the amount of verbiage when he discusses the three schools, I think our chances are better than 50/50, at least for now. But Cincy?  What's that all about?

Cincy's been way better than Marquette in KenPom in recent history.

[Scoop Snoop]

Cincy's been way better than Marquette in KenPom in recent history.

True, but where is Cincy likely headed in the next few seasons vs. Marquette? I think post Cronin Cincy, the "here and now", is what Bond will see rather than its "recent past" before hopefully scratching them off his list.   My guess is its UVA or Marquette. That's why the listing of Cincy surprised me. Then again, HS bballers sometimes make decisions that are totally unexpected. I simply do not get the Cronin-less Cincy attraction.